From mere urbanity to urban bioethical standards

An interest in research, deliberation, and reflection on urbanity has been present for a long time. Due to rapid urbanisation in the last few decades, such interest has intensified, attracting scholars from different disciplines and creating new platforms for discussion. The first indicators of a ‘bioethical’ interest in urban life are already present in Van Rensselaer Potter’s early papers (urban ethics. However, more extensive research into urban bioethics remained on hold until recently, mainly due to the dominance of the biomedical paradigm within modern mainstream bioethics. In 2017, the European Bioethics in Action project (funded by the Croatian Science Foundation) ended, resulting in a list of general bioethical standards related to animals, plants, and human health. The aim of this paper is to present the rationale for developing bioethical standards in a specific urban context.

THE EUROPEANIZATION OF BIOETHICS: OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTEGRATIVE ETHICAL REFLECTION ON THE BASIS OF INTRA-CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN EUROPE

The article represents a reconstruction of theoretical framework in which the concept of integrative bioethics has been developed, as well as a verification of the idea of Europeanization of bioethics which has been sketched and postulated at the beginning of the comprehensive international project of establishing and instituializing the bioethical cooperation, mainly in the region of Southeast Europe. This idea found its firm foothold in the concept of integrative bioethics and in the discovery of the work of Fritz Jahr, which contributed to establishing the concept of European bioethics. Compositionally seen, this article is the result of synthesis of programmatic ideas presented in the initial phase of the above mentioned bioethical project, and ideas which represent the final point of it.

VULNERABILIDAD. LA PROFUNDIDAD DE UN PRINCIPIO DE LA BIOÉTICA

RESUMEN: El principio de vulnerabilidad es el principio esencial de la bioética europea en la medida que es un principio anterior y prioritario a los otros principios. Este principio recogido en la Declaración de Barcelona también es recogido en el art. 8 de la Declaración Universal de Bioética y Derechos Humanos de la UNESCO (2005) ampliando así su horizonte de un nivel europeo a un nivel universal. Por estas razones es esencial detenernos a reflexionar en profundidad sobre su significado. Este artículo ofrece, para realizar esta tarea de modo sintético y descriptivo, algunas cuestiones claves presentando el DNA de la vulnerabilidad en ocho marcos: cultural, social, institucional, antropológico, emocional, relacional, biográfico y profesional.ABSTRACT: The principle of vulnerability is an essential principle in European bioethics, given that it precedes and has priority over the other principles. This principle, stated in the Barcelona Declaration is also specified in the Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights. This broadens its horizon from a European level, to a universal level. For these reasons, it is essential for us to take time to consider in depth about its meaning. This article offers, for the accomplishment of this task, some key questions in a synthetic manner, presenting the DNA of vulnerability in eight frames: cultural, social, institutional, anthropological, emotional, relational, biographical and professional.

The principle of vulnerability and its potential applications in bioethics

The principle of vulnerability is a specific principle within European Bioethics. On the one hand, vulnerability expresses human limits and frailty on the other hand it represents moral and ethical action principles. In this paper a discussion on the relationship between the concepts of autonomy, vulnerability and responsibility is proposed and presentation of some possible applications of the principle of vulnerability within bioethics. In conclusion, some potential benefits of applying the principle of vulnerability as well as possible difficulties in its application are highlighted.